City agencies work to let community know help available

With the recent slayings of two young girls in Englewood renewing attention on the South Side neighborhood, Mayor Richard Daley announced Wednesday a plan to send community policing specialists door to door.

Officials with Chicago Alternatives for Policing Strategy will begin canvassing the neighborhood on Tuesday, joined by representatives of 18 city agencies, to collect family data.

The data would include information about medical problems and school attendance and would link Englewood residents with city services that tackle the root causes of violence, Daley said.

City officials stressed that the program would be voluntary.

Daley said extraordinary measures are needed to combat Englewood's drug dealers and gangs.

"Gangs and drug dealers don't come from Mars, they come from the community," said Daley, who announced the program at a Chicago Police Department graduation ceremony at McCormick Place. "There's a total disregard for life."

The program is starting about a month after the deaths of Starkesia Reed, 14, and Siretha White, 10, who were killed in their homes by stray bullets. The killings prompted neighborhood peace rallies but also renewed complaints by residents that their neighborhood has been ignored.

As word of Daley's plan filtered through Englewood, residents were split over whether the idea was a political stunt or a welcome sign that city officials want to address Englewood's systemic problems.

"The homicides of Starkesia and Siretha taught us all there are challenges to the community," Police Supt. Philip Cline said. "Police alone can't solve the social issues in the Englewood neighborhood."

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said the canvassing, led by CAPS but joined by representatives of 18 city agencies, will last until June and, if successful, will move to other neighborhoods. The information gathered could be used by the city's 311 operators, Cline said.

Vincent Barnes, executive director of the Rebirth of Englewood Community Development Corporation, said the effort could help reverse mistrust between the community and police, but only if the canvassing is a first step toward more police presence.

"I'm not waxing nostalgic, but I'd like to see something similar to the way things used to be, of cops walking the area and being so familiar with the beat they know people's names," Barnes said.

Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th) said the effort was unlikely to reduce crime but predicted that her ward's residents would welcome the canvassing.

"Many people feel the city has ignored them for years and years and years," she said.

But Vincent Glispie, 41, called the idea "intrusive." He said most residents would be on edge "if some stranger comes up to you and asks about your kids."

When Daley and other elected officials marched in Englewood weeks ago, some residents called it a publicity stunt. One resident repeated the charge after learning of Daley's new plan, saying he would not cooperate with city officials.

"It's all politics," said Red Priest, 48. "It's that time of the year. People are trying to stay in office."

Elections for mayor and alderman will be held Feb. 27.

In making the announcement Wednesday, Daley drew parallels to the video cameras installed last year in high-crime neighborhoods. But he offered few details about the program and did not take questions.

Daley did say that officials would take the names of residents and collect other personal information. Later, Bond clarified the plan, saying it was not designed as a census but rather as a way to collect general information and publicize city services.

John Paul Jones, chairman of the Greater Englewood Community and Family Task Force, said he had spoken with Daley on Tuesday and urged him to do more in Englewood.

Jones praised the newfound focus but suggested that canvassers should include community leaders who already have the trust of residents.

"We need to be sure this is a brand new day and that they're not coming as invaders from the city," Jones said. "Having police knock on your door is not always the best."